Clinical Analysis of Transcatheter Embolotherapy for Congenital Pulmonary Arteriovenous Fistulas in Children

Objective: To summarize the clinical features and therapeutic effects of transcatheter embolotherapy for congenital pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas (PAVFs) in children, and to explore the method and therapeutic principle of transcatheter embolotherapy for congenital PAVFs in children. Method: We retrospectively reviewed nine patients with PAVF who underwent transcatheter embolotherapy in the Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from July 2004 to July 2019, including the demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, efficiency of closure, and follow-up. Results: Transcatheter embolotherapy was successful in all cases, and the symptom remission rate was 100% during the follow-up. No residual shunts or other complications occurred during the follow-up period. Compared with before embolotherapy, there were significant changes in the percentage of saturated oxyhemoglobin and total hemoglobin level at the last follow-up ( t =10.06, P=0.000; t =3.055, P=0.0076). No significant difference was observed in pulmonary artery pressure before and after embolotherapy ( t =0.13, P=0.90). Conclusions : Transcatheter embolotherapy offers the advantages of safety, with a decreased risk of trauma and a specific effect of treatment, and therefore is recommended as the first-line treatment for congenital PAVFs in children. However, continued research is necessary to understand the full potential of transcatheter embolotherapy.